Kidnappers Demand N10 Million Ransom for Two Farmers Abducted in Akoko Forest

Suspected gunmen have abducted two farmers along the Oke-Ifira/Idogun forest axis of Akoko South-East Local Government Area of Ondo State, with the kidnappers demanding ten million naira for their release.

The victims were reportedly ambushed while travelling to their farmland in Ifira, a farming community in the area, before being taken into a nearby forest by their attackers. The incident occurred on Saturday, 18 July 2026.

A relative of one of the victims disclosed the abduction during a phone-in radio programme on Tuesday in Akure, the Ondo State capital. The family member said the kidnappers had since made contact demanding the ransom, and that the case had been reported to the police and to the Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun Corps.

“We’ve reported the incident to the police and the Amotekun Corps in our area. We’re begging the security agencies and the government to help us rescue our brothers unharmed,” the relative said.

DSP Abayomi Jimoh, the Police Public Relations Officer for the Ondo State Command, confirmed to newsmen on Tuesday that a report of missing persons had been received at the Isua Akoko Divisional Headquarters. He said search and rescue operations were ongoing, with operational and intelligence resources deployed to locate the victims and identify the perpetrators.

However, Jimoh said the command was not aware of any ransom demand connected to the incident, adding that this account was based on information available to the police at the time of the statement.

A joint security team comprising personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, Amotekun Corps, local hunters, Agbekoya operatives and community volunteers has been deployed to the affected area.

Jimoh appealed to members of the public with credible and actionable information to share it promptly with the police to assist the ongoing search.

The abduction is the latest in a series of kidnappings targeting farmers in Ondo State’s forest belt in recent months, an area security agencies have repeatedly flagged for stepped-up patrols.

Efforts to independently reach the victims’ families for further comment were unsuccessful as of press time. VOP TV News will provide updates as the situation develops.